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ekmook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Stalking
mommarex1221's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I knew from the first few chapters that what Ward had created was masterfully written, even if I questioned what exactly it was that I was reading. This book will stick with me.
Triggers galore. Explore at your own risk, some may be considered spoilers.
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Murder, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Self harm, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
plauer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The story centers on the titular house and its inhabitants, which include a man dealing with flashbacks to his past, a young girl who rides around on her bike, and a cat that reads the Bible. A neighbor moves in trying to solve a years old mystery that she thinks those in the house may be involved in. The more that the story pries into the mystery at its heart, the more the expected story begins to unravel.
Ward does an exceptional job of building expectations and then slowly unwinding them. Every time that I thought that I understood exactly what was happening, further pieces began to be revealed that would turn my understanding on its head. This is an incredibly hard story due to the subject matter. There are strong content warnings for child abuse, murder, and mental illness. I encourage anyone interested in this book to look those up so that you will be prepared going in.
One of the strongest parts of this story is how Ward creates complicated characters but makes you care deeply for them despite their flaws. Every character has their own issues that they are dealing with and Ward explores these in-depth. I think in another writer's hands this story could be very harmful but Ward does a great job of making these characters feel fully fleshed out.
I will say that I expected this story to have more of a speculative slant than it does. In some stories, this may have dampened my experience but Ward did such a good job with the story that it was thoroughly enjoyable even though it was different than my expectations.
I am interested in what Ward will write next as I have a lot of confidence in her storytelling abilities.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
misty_muskrat's review
5.0
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A mystery/horror where the D.I.D. system is the victim/survivor and is not only completely innocent, but gains a hopeful ending and a supportive friend.
<SPOILER>
Graphic: Confinement, Animal death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Alcoholism
spell_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Body horror, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
alexsprettyvenom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, and Ableism